Type wheel setting and locking means in line composition



y 1965 R.-BLANCH1N ETAL 3,196,782

TYPE WHEEL smmw AND LOCKING mus IN LINE courosmon Filed Jan. 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' FIg..' Fig.: 2

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TYPE WHEEL SETTING AND LOCKING MEANS IN LINE COMPOSITION Filed Jan. 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet A'ttovltss y 27, 1965 R. BLANCHIN ETAL 3,196,782

TYPE WHEEL SETTING AND LOCKING MEANS IN LI NE COMPOSITION Filed Jan. 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J Athena-:35

y 1965 R. BLANCHIN ETAL 3,196,732

TYPE WHEEL SETTING AND LOCKING MEANS IN LINE COMPOSITION Filed Jan. 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 in we af r;

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United States Patent 3,196,7d2 TYPE WHEEL SETTKNG AND EQCKINE MEANS EN ENE QUMPGSiTifiN Roger Elanchin, t tains, and Eric Tison, Paris, France, assignors to Faeailles dz Tison, Paris, France, a company of France Filed Plan. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 253,092 Elaims priority, application France, .lan. 2.2, 1962, 385, fi it!) Claims. (Cl. Mil-93) This invention relates to an apparatus whereby one or more lines can be automatically composed for printing documents such as cheques, or 'such other documents printed with magnetizable ink or ordinary printing ink as require rapid changes in typesetting.

A printed line usually consists of a succession of printing characters that can be set into the periphery of typewheels. When this is the case, each wheel carries a set of printing characters on its periphery and the line of type can be set by hand by rotating the type-wheels into the individual positions in which they jointly give the desired line of print.

In accordance with this invention, the typesetting takes place automatically, without necessitating any halts and possibly even without slowing down the printing rate.

The invention accordingly provides for associating to each type-wheel a rotary contact adapted to cooperate with fixed contacts equal in number to the number of printing characters carried by said wheel, means for rotating the type-wheel in synchronism with the associated rotary contact, means for locking the type-wheel in the position required for line composition, and selection means for energizing the fixed contact corresponding to the chosen character, whereby to cause closure of the electric circuit leading up to said fixed contact to rotate the type-wheel and associated rotary contact until the latter encounters the selected fixed contact, thereby locking the type-wheel in the printing position corresponding to the chosen character.

In accordance with one specific embodiment of the invention, the rotary contact is carried by a wheel distinct from the type-wheel but is adapted to be driven in synchronism therewith. In this specific case, the fixed contacts are dis osed over a circumference on a stationary plate adjacent the type-wheel carrying the rotary contact. The locking means can include bars acting as engagement pegs and each adapted to be retracted against the countering force of a spring when a coil surrounding the bar is energized. Provision is made for two pegs acting simultaneously, one to lock the type-wheel and the other to lock the wheel carrying the rotary contact. By Way of example, the type-wheel can comprise notches between successive print characters to receive the tip of the associated peg, while the wheel carrying the rotary contact can comprise peripheral notches which are spaced in identical fashion to the type-wheel notches.

In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, notably for use when the print will allow of generously spaced lettering, the type-wheel and the wheel carrying the rotary contact can be combined into one. The rotary contact can then be lodged in a recess in the ty e-wheel and cooperate with a fixed printed circuit which is connected to the selective system and disposed between two successive type-wheels.

Such an apparatus executed in accordance with this invention can be used separately for printing cheques, envelopes and the like, as well as documents which have already been printed and cut to size. it can also be used for continuous printing, in which case it is coupled to a continuously operating machine enabling the typeset to be changed automatically without requiring a halt and possibly also without slowin down the printing rate.

The composition of a line can be changed automatically in this way by connecting the apparatus electrically to any convenient device whereby to set the line of type as required and also to determine the quantity of documents to be printed with a given composition and the order in which the composition is to be changed.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are filed by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary sectional view of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic detail side elevation of the printing device;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an axial section taken through a type-wheel in the embodiment of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 3, showing a third possible embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a set of type-wheels 1, la, lb of identical diameter, bearing letterpress printing characters on their periphery. Said type-wheels are removably mounted on a shaft 2 and adapted to be rotated by friction by shaft 2. Said shaft 2 is supported on a casting 3. The type-wheels as a whole can be translated under the action, for example, of a connecting-rod d of which one end 4a is revolved and the other end db which is rigid with the type-wheel shaft 2, slides in a stationary slideway 5 in the casting (see FIG. 2). An inking device, comprising parallel rollers 6, 6a, 6b, for instance, conveys ink from a reserve supply 7 onto the type face on the type-wheels.

Shaft 2 carries on its end a bevel pinion hi meshing with another pinion 11 mounted on a shaft E2 of variable length, which'shaft consists for instance of two telescopic sections (as illustrated) or two sections connected by a universal joint. Said shaft 12 mounts on one extremity a pinion 13 which meshes with a pinion 14 on a shaft 15. Shaft 15 supports a set of tracking wheels 16, 16a, 16b the number of which is equal to the number of type-wheels and which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The tracking wheels are mounted on shaft 15 in the same way as the type-wheels on shaft 2, i.e., they are removable and can be rotated by friction by shaft 15. By reason of the variable length of shaft 12., the tracking wheels can be mounted on a fixed casting. In addition, the coupling between shafts 2. and i5 is such that the two shafts rotate in synchronism. Shaft 15 likewise extends through a set of stationary wheels 1], 17a, 17b each of which is associated to a tracking wheel. Thus the system will comprise a set of tracking wheels separated by stationary wheels. Shaft 15, and consequently shaft 2, is rotated by a motor 19, through a suitable reduction gear 213, 21. Motor 19 can be an independent motor or be the very motor of the machine to which the apparatus is coupled.

in short, it will be seen that to each type-wheel 1 there correspond a tracking wheel 15 and a stationary wheel 17 or commutator, two associated wheels being susceptible of rotation at the same speed.

Each stationary wheel or commutator such as wheel 17, associated to a tracking wheel such as wheel 16 and to a type-wheel such as wheel 1 (see FIG. 3), is provided with a set of contacts 25a, 25b, 25c, equal in number to the number of characters a, b, c carried on the type-wheel. In the specific embodiment illustrated, said contacts are radially-disposed and uniformly-spaced conductive elements on the periphery of stationary wheel 17. Each fixed contact a, 25 is connected by a conductor 26a, 26b, to a corresponding terminal 27a, 27b, forming part of a selector system. Said selector system could be provided in the form, say, of a mobile contact 28 driven by suitable means such as a scanning head on an electronic machine.

Wheel 15, which is rotatable by shaft 15, carries a rotary contact 39 so disposed as to be able to touch each of fixed contacts 25a, 25b, By way of example, said contact 30 can be pivotally mounted on a shaft 31. Wheel 16 is also provided on its periphery with notches 32 corresponding to the notches 33 which are embodied on the periphery of type-wheel 1 between successive printing characters. The tracking wheel is preferably of the same diameter as the type-wheel and the spacing between notches 32 will therefore be equal to the spacing between notches 33.

An electric circuit comprises an input terminal 34, a conductor 35, two terminals 35 and 37 adapted to be connected through a contact 33, and two coils 39 and 4% connected in parallel across a conductor 41 leading rom terminal 37 and a return conductor 42 leading up to output terminal Coils 3? and 4% respectively surround peglike bars 44 and 45 loaded by springs 46 and 47 respectively. Peg 44 is so designed that its extremity be urged by spring 46 into engagement with one of the notches 32 on wheel 1* when coil 3) is not energized. Similarly, peg 45 is so designed that its extremity be urged by spring 47 into engagement with a corresponding notch 38 on wheel when coil is not energized.

In addition, a circuit 4:; leads from conductor 35 to rotary contact 39. This circuit includes a coil 4? surrounding a bar so joined to contact 33, while the fixed point 51 of moblic contact 23 of the selector system is mounted on conductor 42. Mobile contact 28 forms a separate and distinct switching device between each of the contacts 27a, 2'71) (and thus commutator fixed contacts 25a, 25b, respectively) and fixed switching contact 51.

The apparatus hereinbefore described functions in the following manner:

When it is desired to compose a line for printing a document of any sort such .as a cheque, envelopes, or the like, the selection system (a scanning head of an electronic machine, say) commands a change in typesetting. Since the selection system is not in itself part of the invention, it can differ from one manufacturer to another. It will be understood, therefore, that the description tbereof given hereinbefore was provided by way of example only and not of limitation. The selection system consequently places the contact 28 of each selector in contact with the terminal 2'7 associated to the character which is to be printed by the type-wheel 1 associated to the system. Since the circuit across this selected terminal (27b for example) and the rotary contact 36 is not closed, to current flows through coil 49 and contact 38 closes the circuit of coils 39 and 4t Because these coils are energized, pegs 44 and 45 free wheels 16 and 1, which rotate in synchronism.

Wheel 26 rotates until the rotary contact 30 it bears touches the fixed contact 25b connected to the selected terminal 271). This causes current to flow through conductor 48, whereupon coil 49 is energized and contact between 36 and 37 is no longer etsablished by 3. As a result, coils 39 and are no longer energized and pegs 44 and 4-5 are thrust back by springs 46 and 47 and simultaneously engage with cor-responding notches of wheels 16 and 1, which are thus held immovable. Type-wheel 1 is thus in position to print the chosen character.

This operation takes place simultaneously for all the wheels 16 and 1. Thus total selection is eifected in a maximum time slightly less than that taken by the wheels to make one revolution. The selection control can be simultaneously for all the characters composing a line. It can be given at any time while printing is underway, the

command for a change of typeset taking place only after last printing in a given run has been made. To this end it will be sufficient to establish a potential across terminals 4-3 and 343 only after the final print in the run underway has been made.

It is to be noted that since selection is achieved by means of rotating tracking wheels, zeroing is not required between successive typcscttings. In addition, the sets of type-wheels and tracking wheels are removable, so that both the number and the nature of the characters composing a line can be varied.

By way of example, one line can be earmarked for ma netic readings, another line consisting of ordinary printing characters.

The use of a tracking wheel such as 16 is necessary when printing a line of which the pitch, i.e., the width of a character plus the space separating it from an adjacent character, is small.

In cases where the printing will admit of a large pitch, the tracking wheel and the type-wheel can be combined into one, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 4 and in FIG. 5.

Reference is now made to Fi-GS. 4 and 5, wherein typewheel 1 (forming part of a set of type-wheels mounted as in the embodiment of the previous figures) is relatively thick and likewise bears peripheral characters separated by regularly spaced notches 33'. Said type-wheel 1 is mounted on shaft 2 and associated to a fixed plate 17 having thereon an electric printed circuit which is composed, on the one hand, of a set of fixed contacts 25 arranged along a circumference and connected by conductors 2 6 to the selection system terminals 27 and, on the other, of an endless terminal 52 which consist of a rim concentric with said circumference and connected to the conductor 48 in which coil 49 is mounted.

Within wheel I. is embodied a continuous annular groove 53 facing the discrete contacts 25 and the endless terminal 52. Housed in a recess 54 of said groove is a rotary contact 3% which is rigid with wheel 1 and therefore rotatable therewith. Contact 36' is so designed that one of its extremities touches endless circular terminal 52 and its other extremity can touch all the contacts 25 in succession.

In this case only one peg 4-5 is needed to lock wheel 1, which wheel serves also as a tracking wheel bearing rotary contact 30'. This being so, operation of the system is similar to that described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 3.

The embodiment shown on FIGURE 6 represents a simplification of the first embodiment described hereinabove.

Tracking wheel 16a is part of the set of tracking wheels and embodies peripheral notches 32a cut into the form of gear cogs, and this likewise applies to the other tracking wheels.

Each type-wheel such as 1a is provided with an equal number of cog-like peripheral notches 32a of same module as the tracking wheel notches and meshing therewith.

By reason of the lay-out employed, the locking peg 44 which locks the tracking wheel also locks the type-wheel associated thereto.

The system as described precedingly no longer includes a locking peg exclusive to the type-wheel. Except for this feature, the system operates exactly as described hereinbefore.

It will of course be understood that the specific embodiments hereinbefore described are susceptible of many modifications which in no way entail departures from the scope of the invent-ion. Moreover, such an apparatus can be used alone or in association with one or more similar pieces of apparatus for setting a plurality of lines of type. Furthermore, one or more pieces of apparatus according to the invention can be coupled to a machine for c011- tinuous operation, whereby to change the typesetting automatically without a halt and possibly also without slowing down the printing rate.

What is claimed is:

ll. An apparatus for automatically setting at least one line of type for printing documents from data which may be represented by distinctive switching operations, com prising type wheels carrying printing characters, a tracking wheel for each printing wheel, an electrical contact on each tracking wheel forming a rotary contact, a commutator wheel adjacent each tracking wheel and having a plurality of fixed contacts, one for each character on said type wheel, common drive means to rotate said type wheels with the respective tracking wheel in synchronism whereby said tracking wheel contact successively encounters said commutator fixed contacts, locking means for locking said type wheel-s and tracking wheels in a desired position to suit the line composition, switching means for each commutator having a distinctive switching device for each commutator fixed contact, means to place said switching device in a conductive state corresponding to the data to be printed from the respetcive type Wheel while the remaining switching devices are in non-conductive state, a plurality of lines connecting each said commutator fixed contact to a common terminal through its respective switching device, a conductor from said common switch terminal to said tracking wheel electrical contact, means for energizing said common terminal conductor when the electric circuit including said tracking contact and said line from the commutator contact in a conductive state is completed, whereby to cause said type wheel to be locked in the printing position corresponding to the selected data when the said commutator fixed contact in a conductive is encountered by said tracking contact.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotary contact is carried by a tracking wheel which is distinct from the type-Wheel and said lock-ing means comprises means driving simultaneously the locking of both said tracking wheel and said type-wheel.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim -1 wherein said rotary contact is swingably mounted on said tracking wheel whereas said fixed contacts are conductive elements disposed on notches uniformly-spaced on the periphery of a stationary Wheel.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises peg-like bars, spring means urging said bars into locking position and coil means included in said conductor to retract said bars against the force of said spring means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the type-wheel embodies notches between each two successive printing characters for co-operating with said locking means and wherein said distinct tracking wheel embodies peripheral notches spaced to match these of said typewheel.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the diameter of said type-wheel is equal to that of said tracking wheel, the notch spacings on said wheels being equal.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tracking wheel is provided with cog-like peripheral notches and the type-wheel with an equal number of cog-like peripheral notches of the same module as the tracking wheel notches and meshing therewith.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the type-wheels and the tracking wheels are mounted on shafts so that they be rotatable by iriction.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said rotary contacts are housed in the body of each successive type-wheel and a fixed plate carrying said fixed contacts is disposed between two successive type-wheels.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said fixed plate comprises discrete fixed terminals disposed along a circumference and equal in number to the number of printing characters on the associated type-wheel, and an endless stationary circular terminal, said rotary contact being so designed that it be in constant contact with said endless terminal and able to successively make contact with said fixed terminals connected to said selection means.

References (Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,364,207 12/44 G-hertman 101-19 2,796,830 6/57 Hilton 101-93 2,805,620 9/57 Rosen et al 101-93 2,831,424 4/58 MacDonald 101-93 2,864,307 12/58 Hilton et al 101-93 2,915,968 12/59 Witt et al. 101-93 2,955,755 10/60 Bradshaw 101-19 X 3,001,469 9/61 Davis et a1 101-93 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SETTING AT LEAST ONE LINE OF TYPE FOR PRINTING DOCUMENTS FROM DATA WHICH MAY BE REPRESENTED BY DISTINCTIVE SWITCHING OPERATIONS, COMPRISING TYPE WHEELS CARRYING PRINTING CHARACTERS, A TRACKING WHEEL FOR EACH PRINTING WHEEL, AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT ON EACH TRACKING WHEEL FORMING A ROTARY CONTACT, A COMMUTATOR WHEEL ADJACENT EACH TRACKING WHEEL AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF FIXED CONTACTS, ONE FOR EACH CHARACTER ON SAID TYPE WHEEL, COMMON DRIVE MEANS TO ROTATE SAID TYPE WHEELS WITH THE RESPECTIVE TRACKING WHEEL IS SYNCHRONISM WHEREBY SAID TRACKING WHEEL CONTACT SUCCESSIVELY ENCOUNTERS SAID COMMUTATOR FIXED CONTACTS, LOCKING MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID TYPE WHEELS AND TRACKING WHEELS IN A DESIRED POSITION TO SUIT THE LINE COMPOSITION, SWITCHING MEANS FOR EACH COMMUTATOR HAVING A DISTINCTIVE SWITCHING MEANS FOR EACH COMMUTATOR FIXED CONTACT, MEANS TO PLACE SAID SWITCHING DEVICE IN A CONDUCTIVE STATE CORRESPONDING TO THE DATA TO BE PRINTED FROM THE RESPECTIVE TYPE WHEEL WHILE THE REMAINING SWITCHING DEVICES ARE IN NON-CONDUCTIVE STATE, A PLURALITY OF LINES CONECTING EACH SAID COMMUTATOR FIXED CONTACT TO A COMMON TERMINAL THROUGH ITS RESPECTIVE SWITCHING DEVICE, A CONDUCTOR FROM SAID COMMON SWITCH TERMINAL TO SAID TRACKING WHEEL ELECTRICAL CONTACT, MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID COMMON TERMINAL CONDUCTOR WHEN THE ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAID TRACKING CONTACT AND SAID LINE FROM THE COMMUTATOR CONTACT IN A CONDUCTIVE STATE IS COMPLETED, WHEREBY TO CAUSE SAID TYPE WHEEL TO BE LOCKED IN THE PRINTING POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE SELECTED DATA WHEN THE SAID COMMUTATOR FIXED CONTACT IN A CONDUCTIVE IS ENCOUNTERED BY SAID TRACKING CONTACT. 